M1686 assault rifle (7.62×67mmB)

M1686 assault rifle (7.62×67mmB)
Type:	Assault rifle
Place of origin:	Unified Governorates
In service:	1687 AN –
Used by:	Black Legions (Operational testing) UDF (Production partner) Military of Alduria-Wechua (Evaluation) Home Guard (Evaluation) Sanaman Armed Forces
Designed:	1679–1684 AN
Manufacturer:	Mishalan Arsenal
Length:	889mm
Barrel Length:	518mm
Weight:	3.86Kg
Cartridge:	7.62×67mmB
Magazine:	20- or 30-round detachable box magazine
Rate of Fire:	675-750RPM
Muzzle Velocity	1,000 m/s
Effective Firing Range	274 m – 620 m
Maximum Firing Range	1,110 m
Cost:

Soon after the end of the Second Amokolian War work began at the Mishalan Arsenal, in what is now the Autonomous Bailiwick of Mishagrad, on a new assault rifle to replace the existing plethora of incompatible small arms inherited by the Raspur Pact aligned forces in Benacia after the Kalirion Fracture. The new arm was of somewhat unconventional design, influenced by earlier Babkhan "bullpup" assault rifles and by development work underway in Sanama for a new infantry carbine, with the working parts and the magazine housed behind the trigger in a rearward extension of the body, which also had the buttplate attached to it. As the buttplate was in line with the axis of the barrel it was necessary to elevate the line of sight and this was done by incorporating a x6 magnification telescopic sight, with phosphor-powered illumination reticle, as part of the carrying handle.

The weapon operates by the conventional method of gas and piston with a rotating bolt. The rifle is capable of being operated in a select fire mode with the operator having the choice of shifting between single shot, semi-automatic, or fully automatic, as necessity or preference dictates. In this way the rifle can meet the doctrinal preference of the Black Legions for aimed shots at medium to long range, as well as the tendency for UDF infantry to lay down heavy volumes of suppressing fire, disgorged at closer distances of engagement.

The rifle has been chambered for the recently developed 7.62×67mmB round, available with cylindrical tipped tungsten bullets, hollow-tipped arsenic capsule rounds for Jing targets, and cyanide coated "bodkin" tipped exploding bullets for use against Bassarids. The loading chamber can house box magazines of twenty or thirty rounds. The calibre of the rifle also permits the fitting and firing from the muzzle of the Type 01 rifle-grenade, provided that the bespoke "percussion-striker" adaptor and flash-guard has been fitted to the front of the weapon before firing is attempted.

As of 1686 AN the weapon is undergoing field trials with units assigned to bandit hunting duties in central Benacia with mass production and roll-out to the line infantry of the UDF and Black Legions to commence from 1687 onwards. As of 1687 the M1686 was additionally accepted for use by the Confederate States Armed Forces and the Military of Alduria-Wechua with procurement orders placed by Floria and an agreement inked for licensed production to commence in Alduria.

The Imperial Constancian Armed Forces began transitioning to the M1686 assault rifle effective 1691, with procurement via the licensee in Alduria.

Development work on a 5.56 mm carbine variant of the rifle began towards the end of 1686 following an expression of interest by the Sanaman Army.

The rifle was retired by Floria in 1711 AN, in favour of a domestic rival - the SA1680, with the surplus weapons being sold on to Western Natopia in 1713 AN.

Relegated to third line formations of the Benacian Union Defence Force and Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie by 1729 AN, in favour of the M1721 battle rifle. By 1730, an Autokratorial Decree relegated its use to Home Guard and reserve formations, with the M1721 battle rifle also becoming the primary assault rifle of the Imperial Constancian Armed Forces.

Production history

An estimated 8,214,737 were manufactured at the Mishalan Arsenal, and under licence by Javelin Industries, between 1687 AN and the closure of production lines with the completion of the final order of the Hurmu contract in 1700 AN. 179,992x rifles of the type ordered by the Imperial Constancian Armed Forces in 1691 AN as part of a consignment of 500,000 were subsequently discovered to have been diverted into the possession of the Honoured Sons of the Honourable Company.

Customer	Manufacturer	Date of Order	Quantity Ordered	Quantity Delivered
Black Legions	Mishalan Arsenal	1687 AN	2,628,109	2,628,109
Union Defence Force	Mishalan Arsenal	1687 AN	3,241,620	3,241,620
Confederate States Armed Forces	Mishalan Arsenal	1687 AN	500,000	500,000
Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie	Javelin Industries	1687 AN	500,000	500,000
Imperial Constancian Armed Forces	Javelin Industries	1691 AN	500,000	320,008
Sanaman Army	Mishalan Arsenal	1691 AN	325,000	325,000
Federal Forces of Nouvelle Alexandrie	Javelin Industries	1693 AN	500,000	500,000
Hurmu Peace Corps	Javelin Industries	1697 AN	200,000	200,000